Yamba (NSW)

An assessment of population growth drivers in Yamba reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Yamba's population is estimated at around 7,181 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 776 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 6,405 people in the suburb of Yamba (NSW). The change is inferred from the resident population of 6,740 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS on June 2024 and an additional 654 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 425 persons per square kilometer. Yamba's growth rate of 12.1% since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of NSW (5.9%) and the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the area. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 72.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Population projections indicate an increase just below the median of regional areas across the nation, with the suburb expected to increase by 862 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 4.9% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Yamba among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Yamba had about 92 new homes approved annually. From FY-21 to FY-25, around 462 homes were approved, with another 104 in FY-26 so far. Over the past five financial years, an average of 0.9 people moved to the area per dwelling built.

This suggests new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and potential for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average expected construction cost value for new dwellings is $513,000, indicating a focus on premium properties.

In FY-26, there have been $3.3 million in commercial development approvals, suggesting limited commercial development activity. Recent construction comprises 89% detached houses and 11% attached dwellings, maintaining Yamba's low-density character with a focus on family homes. With around 41 people per dwelling approval, Yamba exhibits growth area characteristics. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Yamba is projected to gain 349 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Yamba has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 24 projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Yamba Heights Residential Subdivision, West Yamba Shopping Centre, Yamba Quays Canal Estate Development, and Yamba Sewerage Treatment Plant Upgrade. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment performance in Yamba exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Yamba has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well-represented. The unemployment rate was 2.6% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 2.9%. As of September 2025, 2,425 residents are employed, and the unemployment rate is 1.2% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation lags at 43.0%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, 15.3% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries are accommodation & food, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. The area specializes in accommodation & food with an employment share of 2.1 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 2.7%.

Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census data comparison. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 2.9%, labour force by 3.7%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.8 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment decline by 0.5% and labour force decline by 0.1%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Yamba's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 shows that median income in Yamba is $41,409 and average income is $53,581. This contrasts with Rest of NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% from June 2023 to September 2025, estimated median income in Yamba would be approximately $45,078 and average income would be around $58,328 by that date. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Yamba fall between the 7th and 12th percentiles nationally. The $800 - $1,499 income bracket captures 29.5% of Yamba's population (2,118 individuals), differing from broader area patterns where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket dominates with 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Yamba, with only 83.5% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 9th percentile nationally.

Yamba is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Yamba, as per the most recent Census data, 75.5% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 24.5% consisting of semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This is in contrast to Non-Metro NSW where 82.6% of dwellings were houses. Home ownership in Yamba stood at 53.3%, with mortgaged properties at 18.4% and rented ones at 28.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,630, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Yamba was $400 compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Yamba's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863 while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Yamba features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 65.4% of all households, including 16.6% couples with children, 38.7% couples without children, and 9.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 34.6%, with lone person households at 31.5% and group households comprising 3.1%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Educational attainment in Yamba aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 19.8%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 39.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 11.3% and certificates at 28.2%. Currently, 21.8% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, including 8.7% in primary, 5.5% in secondary, and 2.1% in tertiary education.

A substantial 21.8% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 8.7% in primary education, 5.5% in secondary education, and 2.1% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Yamba has 42 active public transport stops offering a mix of ferry and bus services. These stops are served by 29 individual routes that collectively provide 348 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 258 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Yamba's residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 87%, while walking and cycling account for 9% and 3% respectively. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 15.3% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 49 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 8 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Yamba are marginally below the national average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Health indicators suggest below-average outcomes in Yamba. AreaSearch's assessment shows mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~3,459 people), compared to 51.9% across Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (14.1%) and mental health issues (7.8%). 57.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Rest of NSW. Working-age residents have an above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 37.7% of residents aged 65 and over (2,707 people), higher than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Yamba is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Yamba's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 86.8% of its population born in Australia and 90.5% being citizens. English is the language spoken predominantly at home by 96.4%. Christianity is the major religion in Yamba, accounting for 54.4%, slightly lower than the regional average of 55.9%.

The top ancestry groups are English (33.7%), Australian (29.1%), and Irish (10.2%). Notably, Scottish ancestry is overrepresented at 9.8% compared to the regional figure of 8.0%. Welsh ancestry stands at 0.7%, slightly higher than the regional average of 0.5%. Australian Aboriginal ancestry is present at 3.4%, lower than the regional figure of 4.6%.

Yamba ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Yamba is 56 years, notably exceeding Rest of NSW's average of 43 years and significantly higher than Australia's median age of 38 years. The 65-74 age group shows strong representation at 18.8% compared to Rest of NSW, whereas the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 7.7%. This 65-74 concentration is well above the national average of 9.5%. According to the Census conducted in 2021, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 7.4% to 8.6% of the population, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 9.3% to 10.5%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 14.9% to 12.6%. Looking ahead to the year 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Yamba's age structure. The 85+ cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 57%, adding 202 residents to reach a total of 554. Demographic aging continues as residents aged 65 and older represent 52% of anticipated population growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15 to 24 and 5 to 14 age cohorts.